Last week I went to Dahlonega, Georgia where a US Mint was located from 1838-1861. The Mint was located there because there was a gold rush in Georgia and too much gold was being found to be taken safely to Philadelphia to be made into coins. During the Dahlonega Mint's duration, it minted more than $6 million dollars of gold coins. In 1861, the Dahlonega Mint was seized by the Confederate Troops ending its time as a US Mint.

The gold in Georgia is the purest gold found in the world. It is 98.7% pure.

Benjamin Parks is considered to be the first person to discover gold in Georgia. He discovered the gold 2 ½ miles south of Dahlonega. When he was taking cows to a pasture, his foot caught on a gold nugget. When others found out about the gold, it started the first major US gold rush.

If you go to Dahlonega, you can visit and learn more about the mint, gold mining, and gold coins minted in Dahlonega.  A wonderful time to visit would be the second weekend of October, since the town holds its' annual Dahlonega Gold Rush, a festival commemorating the gold discovery.

Some things worth visiting include:

*The Price Memorial Building at North Georgia College. The Price Memorial Building is built on the foundations of the Dahlonega US Mint building. In 1871, ten years after the mint got seized by the confederate troops, the Dahlonega Mint was donated to the North Georgia Agricultural College. 7 years later, in 1878, the building burned down. The Price Memorial Building was built on the mint's foundation in 1879.  Be sure to admire the building's beautiful golden steeple! It is covered with gold from Dahlonega. In 2019, the steeple was regilded using about 18 ounces of 23.75-carat gold.

*The Dahlonega Gold Museum.  This excellent museum tells all about Dahlonega and its' gold rush.  It also has a complete collection of coins minted in Dahlonega- valued at over $4 million.  It shows nuggets and tells the Dahlonega gold story.  Don't get too close to the exhibit or an alarm will go off and everyone within 2 miles will hear!

*Consolidated Gold Mines and Crisson Gold Mine.  I went into the Consolidated Gold Mines and learned about some of the mine machines used in the late 1800's and early 1900's. I also visited the Crisson Gold Mine where I saw the only working stamp mill in Georgia. The stamp mill crushed gold bearing ore into sand for the gold to then be removed. I was able to pan for gold and learn more about the early gold miners and how these early gold coins were made.

The dome of the Georgia Capital building in Atlanta is gilded with gold from Dahlonega and the nearby areas.

Dahlonega is not the most famous US Mint, but it has a fascinating history.  I enjoyed my visit, and you would too, if you ever find yourself in North Georgia.

--Clark Davis--